WHAT'S NEWS

"The Supreme Court's ruling on Monday that the government cannot force certain employers to pay for birth control was more than a rebuke to President Obama. It was vindication of the conservative movement's efforts to chip away at laws it finds objectionable by raising questions of freedom of expression. ... The ruling comes as social conservatives have suffered setbacks on another high-profile social issue, same-sex marriage, and leaders predicted Monday's decision would infuse Republicans with energy as they fight to take control of the Senate this year and reclaim the White House in 2016. ... Yet even as conservatives celebrated coming out on the winning side of a divisive social issue, their court victory may have also handed Democrats an issue that will turn out liberal voters in the fall." (New York Times)

The Supreme Court also "dealt a setback to unions by ruling that in-home care workers in Illinois who are paid by the state are not similar enough to full-fledged government employees to be compelled to pay union dues." (Chicago Tribune)

"Record numbers of unaccompanied children crossing into the U.S. from Mexico and a clear signal that immigration reform is dead in the House have prompted ... Obama to launch a new administration effort to 'fix as much of our immigration system as I can' on his own." (National Journal)

The super PAC American Crossroads (R) and its nonprofit affiliate, Crossroads GPS, "will reserve about $14.6 million ... worth of fall air time in five key Senate races:" Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana and North Carolina. "The new reserves will come on top of about $5.6 million in fall ... advertising time in Alaska American Crossroads reserved last month." (Washington Post)

In AZ-01, businessman Gary Kiehne (R) released a new TV ad casting himself as "a conservative we can trust finally secure the border, stop the reckless spending and reign in an overreaching federal government." (release)

In GA-11, state Sen. Barry Loudermilk (R) released a new TV ad in which he pledges to "defend our liberty from Barack Obama's big-government takeover." (Politico)

In LA-05, Rep. Vance McAllister (R) "will run for re-election. ... After surveillance video from last December was leaked in April showing him kissing a married staffer, McAllister announced he would serve out the remainder of his term but not seek re-election." (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

In HI GOV, Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) "signed ... a measure that will allow voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016 and late voter registration, including on Election Day, beginning in 2018." (Hawaii Reporter)

In NH GOV, businessman Walt Havenstein (R) "is eligible to run for governor, the state Ballot Law Commission ruled" Monday, quashing "an argument Democrats have been making for months that Havenstein didn't meet the seven-year inhabitancy requirement." (Concord Monitor)

In PA GOV, "the Republican-controlled legislature approved a $29.1 billion spending plan Monday that would not raise any taxes or impose new ones. ... It was unclear whether" Gov. Tom Corbett (R) "would sign the budget, as the legislature had not yet delivered on his priorities." (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) "called Monday's Hobby Lobby ruling ... 'deeply disturbing' and said there should be 'a real outcry against this kind of decision.'" (Los Angeles Times)

"State lawmakers investigating" New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) "administration over the George Washington Bridge lane closure controversy" served his incoming chief of staff, Regina Egea, "with a subpoena to testify before the committee ... on July 8." (Newark Star-Ledger)

OUR CALL

Hotline editors weigh in on the stories that drive the day

• A tale of two Republican Senate candidates: In Colorado, Cory Gardner praised the Hobby Lobby ruling within minutes of the decision, while underscoring his support for measures making it easier for women to purchase over-the-counter contraceptives. In New Hampshire, Scott Brown waited hours before issuing a statement, and even then dodging whether he supports the Supreme Court's decision in the response. Gardner is addressing his biggest political challenges head-on, overcoming some his biggest vulnerabilities. Brown has avoided controversial subjects in his attempts to remain in the middle, and hasn't gotten the early traction many expected. -- Josh Kraushaar

• It's bad enough for Rep. Kerry Bentivolio that he's down by 14 points to his primary challenger, attorney Dave Trott, according to an internal poll for Trott's campaign. It's even worse that he's fallen so far in a relatively short period of time. A May poll showed the candidates statistically tied, and a poll in September of last year showed Bentivolio leading by 19 points. And the fact that many voters are still undecided (Trott led 33-19) isn't likely to help an incumbent who's already had two years in office to gain support. --Jack Fitzpatrick

• A limited number of automated polls in the AZ GOV GOP primary show Doug Ducey, the state treasurer and a former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery, well-positioned to capture his party's nomination. The race is still gearing up -- the primary isn't until late August -- but the conservative-leaning Ducey has at least two key traits of open primary winners: the money to go on TV early and endorsements from major figures, including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Despite rumors that Gov. Jan Brewer is considering endorsing Republican Scott Smith, Ducey is increasingly looking like the candidate to beat. -- Karyn Bruggeman

HAIR OF THE DOG

FRESH BREWED BUZZ

"It's going to be a little more difficult to ferret out which members of Congress are lavished with all-expenses-paid trips around the world after the House has quietly stripped away the requirement that such privately sponsored travel be included on lawmakers' annual financial-disclosure forms." (National Journal)

"When Congress adjourns for a five-week recess in August, Paul plans to join a medical mission to Guatemala, where he will team up with eye surgeons, nurses and technicians from the University of Utah to visit Salamá, a small manufacturing and commercial center nestled between two mountain ranges 3,000 feet above sea level, north of Guatemala City." (Washington Post)

Hillary Clinton said the election between Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-MS) "was of historical importance because the Republican Party of Mississippi expanded its base." (CNN)

"In a series of private meetings and back-channel discussions," Dick and Liz Cheney "have quietly been working to repair their relationship with a Republican establishment of which they'd been card-carrying members for decades — but that was strained by Liz Cheney's ill-fated Senate bid in Wyoming last year. And if the charm offensive helps lay the groundwork for her to run for public office again someday, all the better." (Politico)

"A new book by a liberal activist is causing a stir ... with its claims that" Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) "held a series of meetings last year with individuals associated with a conspiracy group who contend that top Democratic lawmakers are guilty of treason." (Portland Press Herald)

Former New York Gov. David Paterson (D) "has been mentioned in the mix" to succeed Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), "but said he's not interested in heading back to public office 'unless someone wanted me to run for vice president.'" (New York Daily News)

SWIZZLE CHALLENGE

Thomas Jefferson introduced Americans to macaroni and cheese.

The winner is Randy White, and here's his Swizzle Challenge: "This state is the birthplace of not only a 20th century U.S. president, but to General Douglas MacArthur, Johnny Cash and Billy Bob Thornton. What state is it?" The 3rd correct e-mailer gets to submit the next question.

SHOT...

"Obama fans took to Twitter with the hashtag #SoSueMe, defending Obama." (Washington Post)

...CHASER

"Guess what, I have flaws. What are they? Oh, I don't know. I sing in the shower. Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car. So sue me... No, don't sue me. That is the opposite of the point that I'm trying to make." -- "Michael Scott" (The Office)